The history of the church of
Christ in the United States can be chronicled through the life and writings of
the editors in its journals. To this end, this issue of the Gospel Advocate is
dedicated to F. Furman Kearley, who died March 1, 2003. Kearley was editor of
the Gospel Advocate from 1985 to 1999.

To illustrate the breadth and
depth of his work, articles have been selected from Furman's writings that
reflect the stature of this man. From his youth, he prepared himself
spiritually, emotionally and intellectually for his life's vocation, to preach
and to teach the Word of God.

We have also included a series
of tributes from Furman's family, friends and colleagues to reaffirm the
strength of his spiritual convictions along with the balanced life he lived and
taught. For 48 years he and his wife, Helen, worked closely together as servants
of God. Helen died in 1999. In their 48 years of marriage, the Kearleys enjoyed
traveling across the country in their motor home. This allowed Furman to preach
in many different locations. The Kearleys were a close-knit family and a source
of strength to him. As you will read on pages 32-33, the family loved to be
outdoors whether camping, horseback riding or playing a ball game.

First and foremost, the
foundation of Furman's faith was based on the inspired, infallible, inerrant
Word of God. To emphasize the importance of this belief, I quote from the Holman
Concise Bible Dictionary, "Inerrancy refers to the truth of Scripture. Belief in
the Bible as the infallible, authoritative. and reliable Word of God has always
been a firm and crucial doctrine of the church, having as its base the very
nature of God and character of the Bible itself. ... Because God is truth, His
revelation in Scripture is true and entirely trustworthy" (318).

Furman was a conscientious
student of the Word. Whether Furman was preaching from a pulpit or teaching in
his classroom, he strongly encouraged everyone to study the Bible and then obey
God's commands to be saved. He often expressed concern that Americans were
becoming biblically illiterate and that Christian training was declining among
children. Furman agreed with an earlier editor,
David Lipscomb, who said. "Until the church instills the Christian religion
into the hearts of children with almost every breath it will never have
faithful, true, devoted members of the church."

Educated in liberal arts,
science and the Bible, including biblical languages, Furman was an effective,
popular university professor. His motto was to "be strong in the grace that is
in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard from me among many
witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also"
(2 Timothy 2:1-2).

Few men among us are able to
write across the broad spectrum of issues within systematic theology as did
Furman. He was capable of reasoning on the difficult issues of life. In his
quest for truth he welcomed discussion, and an interchange of ideas. Furman was
able to relate God's teachings in a practical manner. For him this was more than
an academic interest or exercise. He was, as the Psalmist said, a lamp and a
light.

According to Furman,
"Humanists in the broad sense of the term are composed of liberals, unbelievers
and evolutionists. One common denominator for all humanists is that they all
hate the Bible."

Furman was especially adept at
repudiating the errors of premillennialism and evolution. But he was equally at
ease in discussions with such groups as atheists, infidels, unbelievers,
denominationalists, the worldly, the materialistic and the ungodly.

Martel Pace's tribute of
Furman Kearley reminded me of times when Furman and I talked about church
problems. His response would be, "What bothers me most about the liberals in the
church is that they want to tear down the old principles, but don't know how far
they are going and don't seem to care." Furman was appalled when preachers and
teachers put down biblical teaching, and he did not appreciate sarcasm or
Bible-bashing.

Owen D. Olbricht of Harding
University said of Furman, "He did a great service in his work for the Lord by
being careful in remaining with the truth and by not going off on unimportant or
unworthy and divisive tangents."

Furman Kearley's life
epitomizes these words of David: "Your [God's] testimonies I have taken as a
heritage forever. For they are the rejoicing of my heart" (Psalm 119:111).

My friendship with Furman and
Helen spanned nearly 40 years. I will miss his counsel and his Christian
example. His signature chuckle often was all it took to put things in
perspective.

Most people remember my father
as an educated and intellectual biblical scholar. Many remember him as a
powerful and persuasive gospel preacher with an extensive knowledge of
Scripture.

I knew him as a father, an
ordinary man who did extraordinary things. My memories of him began when He was
developing his skills on the road and extended to the legacy he leaves us now.
The legacy He leaves us in tapes, publications, and the memories of hundreds of
students and church members is personal and powerful.

My dad and I had a deal that
began before I can remember. I could ride on his shoulders as long as I could
play with his hair. We modified our agreement as I grew older, of course, but he
always carried a comb in his pocket so that after I had tousled his hair, he
could put in it place again.

He wore Old Spice aftershave.
I thought it was made just for him and was the best smell in the world.

He loved people. His happiest
times were playing board games with friends, directing camps and vacation Bible
schools, and going door to door inviting people to church.

He loved baseball. I shagged
fly balls for the team He coached at Alabama Christian. He taught me how to razz
pitchers and to love the Saint Louis Cardinals. He once had an extensive
collection of baseball cards that he was sure his aunt had thrown away. He
missed those cards his entire life.

He loved history. When He
preached, he usually gave the historical context of the scriptures and
situations to which he referred. His doctorate was in ancient Near-Eastern
history and languages. But his interest in history spanned more than that.

He had followed Gen. Douglas
MacArthur's Pacific campaigns as a boy with a map published in the newspaper. He
took us on historical vacations. I have stood with my father at Valley Forge,
Gettysburg, the Statue of Liberty, the old North Church, and the grave of
Alexander Campbell.

He loved music. He taught Amy
and me and many others vacation Bible school songs and shape-note singing. He
regretted never learning to play the piano, but he made sure Amy and I learned
to play. And he was pleased that all his grandchildren had learned to sing and
play musical instruments.

My father taught me to whistle
one night while we were waiting in the parking lot of the Montgomery Coliseum
for the 4th of July fireworks. He taught me how to shoot a gun and make
pineapple sandwiches and peanut butter crackers so that the peanut butter
squeezed out the sides and we had to lick it off to keep from making a mess.

He loved the beauty and peace
of nature. I spent time with him at Bellingrath Gardens, on sandy beaches,
camping in the woods, walking west Texas
fields at sunrise and riding a horse.

He loved learning. Four
master' s degrees and a doctorate were only a small part of his own education.
He believed learning, studying and debate were tools for seeking the truth. He
taught me that if I could read, I could do anything.

I remember my first lesson
from him in plant biology and human physiology. I was 6 and in the first grade
at Alabama Christian School on the same campus as the college where Dad taught.
I was eating lunch and swallowed an orange seed. I panicked. I jumped out of my
seat and sprinted the quarter mile down the sidewalk and up to the second-floor
classroom where my dad was teaching chemistry.

I burst into his class crying.
"Daddy, I swallowed an orange seed!" The class laughed and Dad snickered, but He
stepped down from the podium and took me on his knee. I was sure an orange tree
was going to grow in my stomach. He wiped my tears with his handkerchief and
said, "Don't worry, Jan. That seed can't grow in your stomach. There's too much
acid and not enough dirt."

He approached everything he
did with passion and intensity. He continued full-time preaching and doctoral
studies for six months on crutches after he broke his ankle. He agonized over
the papers he graded for his students. I wish there had been witnesses for the
theological grilling I received from him when I told him I wanted to be
baptized.

F. Furman Kearley was my
father. He was my hero.

He is now where he always
sought to be. He knows what he always wanted to know. He is in the company of
those whose company he always sought.

The days pass quickly as there
is so much to do, but as I try to sleep, my mind begins to wind through a series
of thoughts. At first I am sad as I envision scenes like walking through the
house and not ever being able to see my dad again; of not being able to kiss him
and tell him I love him each night before I go to bed; of not having him to look
in on when I wake up at 2:00 in the morning.

After a flow of tears, my mind
goes to a happier place, however, realizing that in the midst of pain, my
heavenly Father has blessed me in so many ways through six years of illness and
loss and my mind begins to fill quickly with happier scenes such as seeing my
father and mother walk hand in hand - visiting with so many friends and loved
ones who have gone before - worshiping like they have never worshiped before.

Before long all I can feel is
thankful. Thankful for a father who saw all the girls in his life through
rose-colored glasses and loved us like we had no faults; a father who taught me
commitment and set a pattern of dedication to God that has never waivered
throughout my entire life; a father who loved his wife like no other I have
seen.

I am thankful for Lora, my
good friend and my father's secretary and caretaker, who made it possible for me
to keep my dad at home; took Dad out to eat in driving rainstorms; let him walk
with a cane when it was so much easier to use the walker; gave my father a
reason to look forward to each new day.

I am thankful for a sister who
shares memories with me and understands things about our lives that no one else
can and friends who do unbelievable things for you and do not expect anything in
return.

I am thankful for my beautiful
in-laws who have come to us for every holiday and helped more than they know and
for my children's friends who were so kind to my dad.

I am thankful for David,
Bethany and Kacey who never complained or made me feel guilty for the sacrifices
they had to make, who acted like everyday in our house was the way everyone
lived, who gave me the greatest gift I could ever ask for, to be able to care for
and bury both of my parents without regret. I am thankful most of all for my
precious Lord and Savior who has given me the strength to make it through each
day and through whom I have the hope of seeing my loved ones again.

May God bless each of you and
keep you until we can all worship together again with my parents in heaven.
Love,
Amy Kearley Johnson

From humble beginnings, Furman
became a widely recognized Christian scholar, author, lecturer and minister of
the gospel. His devotion to God grew from his early childhood. As one of a large
number of cousins of his generation, he was greatly admired by this extended
family. Although the Lord blessed him greatly with friends and earthly praise,
he never forgot his humble beginnings and exhibited great love for his extended
personal family on many occasions.

The Suggs' descendants have
been richly blessed by the many honors accorded Furman and through the respect
of his Christian peers.

We are here to mourn a death
and to celebrate the life of a very uncommon man. Blessed with a great mind, a
diligent spirit and a humble heart, he rose above his peers to lead, to learn
and to share his faith. He was devout in his faith and holy in his life.

Some of you are family. You
have experienced his family love.

As a father, his greatest wish
was to bring his children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. His
daughters knew that.

As a husband, he learned to
live with Helen according to knowledge, giving honor to her as a weaker vessel.
You can hardly think of them as separate, they were so entwined in each other's
life.

Some of you are educators. You
knew of his love of learning. You respected his scholarship, two doctoral degrees
and the books, pamphlets, scholarly articles and practical essays he authored
without number. He taught at five Christian colleges I know of and contributed
his teaching skills and vast knowledge to preaching schools.

He was always in the quest of
the truth. Like those in Berea,
he received the word readily and searched the Scriptures to see if what was
being taught was so. He affirmed truth zealously and exposed error boldly. He
contended earnestly for the faith.

I was honored to work with him
on several projects and got to know the broad scope of his scholarship and the
humble spirit he manifested in its use.

Some of you are businessmen
and women. You knew of his integrity. His word was his bond. He could be
depended on in community projects and city services. He made any place he lived
a better place. He was benevolent to the physical needs of the community, but
most of all he promoted the spiritual and ethical welfare of those among whom he
dwelt. He was leaven, light and salt wherever he lived, and by his life was God
glorified.

Some of you are his friends.
Furman knew the meaning and demands of friendship. He was a friend "that
sticketh closer than a brother." He took the time to express his friendship in
multitudes of ways and at the most needed times. He demonstrated the
truthfulness of the proverb that "a friend stands by you at all times.

Most of us are Christians. It
is in this dimension that Furman is best known and loved. He was a disciple, and
He knew the cost of discipleship. He was willing to take up his cross and follow
Jesus. He knew that only by losing his life could he save it.

Some of you are his students.
He saw you as more than a person on the roll book. You were a living, learning
opportunity. He sought to share his knowledge and to strengthen your faith. His
assignments might have been difficult, but by them you became educated and wise.

Furman Kearley has touched our
lives for good, and we honor his memory. We are blessed by his unwavering faith
and rejoice in his confident hope. A humble, noble and faithful man has walked
among us, and we have been made better because of him.

Furman Kearley was a
"Renaissance Man." He had a wide range of interests and mastered the knowledge
and skills inherent in many disciplines.

Magnolia Bible College
requires the full range of liberal arts courses usual for a college or
university bachelor's degree. When Dr. Kearley arrived as dean, we found he was
academically qualified to teach virtually every course in our curriculum, from
science to history to literature, including Bible and all biblical languages. He
was a baseball coach in his early career at Alabama
Christian College (now Faulkner University.) His 7,000 plus volume library
included not only classic and modern reference works on biblical language and
history but also a complete collection of Louis Lamour westerns.

He was a Bible scholar of the
first rank and taught Bible from the Hebrew and Greek texts. He was deeply
concerned about the moral shift away from God in our country and about a
doctrinal shift away from the authority of Scripture in many churches and
universities.

Before his final illness,
Faulkner University had offered, and he had accepted, a position on the Bible
faculty. It is the university's loss, the brotherhood's loss and ultimately the
whole world's loss that he was unable to fulfill that dream.

In addition, Furman Kearley
and his wife Helen were our beloved friends. Before they came to Mississippi to
work with us, Winnie and I would seek them out whenever there was an opportunity
to be with them. They were great traveling companions. In Mississippi we worked
in close concert daily and were together for meals often several times a week.
We enjoyed the same foods as well as sharing many of the same perspectives as we
conversed.

He was known by people
everywhere as a scholar, writer and teacher. Furman Kearley was also a
delightful human being, a devoted Christian and a good friend.

F. Furman Kearley was a
Christian gentleman, a biblical scholar, and an outstanding gospel preacher.
His life blended the qualities of scholarship and discipleship into effective
leadership in the classroom, in the pulpit, and on the editorial page.

My first encounter with Furman
was in the fall of 1971 when he was the chairman of the department of Bible at
Lubbock Christian University. Over the years his friendship, encouragement
and counsel have been a great source of strength and comfort to me.

As a teacher, Furman was a man
of profound intellect. He taught with clarity and conviction. His knowledge of
Hebrew, Greek, ancient history, church history and biblical narrative was
impressive. But more impressive than his vast knowledge was his deep commitment
to Scripture and to the Lord revealed therein. In the classroom he was
demanding, but always fair. I often joked with him about the nightmares I had
for a year after I graduated. I would wake up certain I had failed to complete a
notebook, write a paper, or finish another of his assignments.

As a minister, he loved the
church and preaching. At Monahans, Texas,
he preached and served as editor of the Gospel Advocate. It was one of the most
productive and enjoyable periods of his life.

Furman had a profound
influence not only on my life, but also the lives of countless others in his
role as an educator. He had an even more profound impact on the church in his
role as editor of the Gospel Advocate. In the tradition of his predecessors, he
brought to that position an uncompromising commitment to the truth presented in
love, a commitment that continues under the editorship of Neil W. Anderson.

Those who knew him as I did
never had cause to doubt his love for Christ, his devotion to Helen and his
family, nor his commitment to the gospel.

For the past 32 years Furman
has been an important part of my life - teacher, brother, friend and counselor.
I know that I am but one of many whose life and ministry were enriched by him.
My family and I treasure the many times he and Helen were in our home. They were
part of our family, and they made us feel part of theirs.

A humble servant of God has
gone on to his reward. There is comfort in that thought and in the realization
that we shall meet again.

F. Furman Kearley came to
Harding Graduate School of Religion with a limitless and undying love for
Rex
Turner Sr. who had been his teacher at Alabama Christian College. Throughout his
entire life, "Brother Turner" was frequently on his lips. From Turner and
others, he had an uncompromising love for the Scriptures and for the Lord's
church.

Furman had the good fortune to
select Helen Bowman as his wife, and in addition to being his wife, she became
his right hand, serving as his capable secretary, typing his papers and
discharging other secretarial tasks. She multiplied what he was able to do.

Furman followed me into the
interfaith program at HebrewUnionCollege
in Cincinnati, Ohio, while preaching for the Garrard Street congregation in
Covington, Ky. He completed his doctorate with distinction in 1971. Furman and
Helen had unusual ability in winning the love of the people in the congregations
where they served. Invitations back for funerals were common. When the
congregation at Covington had internal conflict, they turned to Furman for
mediation.

As his teacher, I found
satisfaction in the success of the student as Furman moved to head the Bible
department of Lubbock Christian University and later when he moved to Abilene
Christian University where he became director of graduate Studies.

Furman's ambitions in life
were tied to the welfare of the Lord's church to which he was totally loyal.
Although seeking to make the church more conformable to Scripture, he was not
among the "change advocates." To be invited to be editor of the Gospel
Advocate
was no small accomplishment for him. The gainsayers who echoed, "Furman Who?",
at the announcement were put to shame.

On occasion a letter would
come from Furman requesting the writing of an article for an issue he was
planning. He projected the including of a lengthy article on "The Argument
From Silence in Reformation Thought," a summary of which had appeared in the
Gospel Advocate, in a volume he was planning, but the volume remains incomplete.

We were distressed at the news
of a decline in Helen's health and her death. There followed news of Furman's
own problems, and then a final Christmas letter from him in the past December
which shared future plans.

In June 1971 my family and I
moved to Lubbock, Texas, for me to preach at the Green Lawn congregation next to
Lubbock Christian College (now university). Among the first people we met there
were Furman and Helen Kearley. Furman was head of the Bible department at the
college, and we immediately bonded in a close friendship that lasted throughout
the rest of their lives.

Furman and Helen were
wonderful Christian people - down to earth, loving and giving. On numerous
occasions, they were in our home or we were in theirs for social activities. We
also had many mutual friends. We enjoyed those wonderful periods of fellowship
together.

Later, the Kearleys moved to
Abilene where he served as chairman of the graduate Bible department at Abilene
Christian University. My brother Jodie and his wife Peggy lived in Abilene
and became friends with the Kearleys as we had become. We stayed close with them
while they were in Abilene; when they lived in Monohans, Texas; and when they
moved to Mississippi. We called each other on the phone or exchanged letters
frequently.

Fran and I visited them once
in Mississippi, where Furman served with Magnolia Bible College, and we had
dinner that evening with the Cecil Mays. Cecil treated all of us to dinner, and
we and the Kearleys talked about that several times. We spent that night at the
Kearley home and sat up very late for a good old-fashioned visit.

During the last dozen years,
as director of the Fort Worth Bible lectureship, I was privileged to have Furman
speak on several occasions. One year we honored him, a man so very deserving of
brotherhood recognition, although he never sought such accolades.

Most recently, while living in
Corsicana, Texas, Furman taught most every quarter over a period of three years
or so in the Brown Trail School of Preaching. He was scheduled to teach in the
spring quarter that started March 24. Knowing of his serious health problems and
not wanting him to overdo himself, I called him 10 days or so before he died to
make sure he was "up to it." He assured me he was and that he wanted to keep
teaching. That's the kind of great Christian he was, using his talents to
communicate God's Word at every opportunity as long as he could. Furman and
Helen will forever be in our hearts. Through the grace of God, we anticipate
seeing them again when all of God's children gather home on shores eternal.

On Saturday, March 1, at about
7:30 p.m. a reunion for Helen and Furman Kearley took place somewhere in the
heavenly realms. Helen had preceded Furman to be with the Lord by a couple of
years. Until Helen was discovered to have breast cancer, one would not have
expected her to go ahead of Furman. It was Furman who had severe diabetes. It
was Furman who had suffered a heart attack while doing mission work in Russia
and had to undergo heart surgery there. It was Furman who had a tendency for
stroke. However, once Helen's cancer was discovered, she fought briefly, then
flew quickly away.

Furman depended so much on
Helen. He wrote extensively and edited others' writings in his capacity as
editor of the Gospel Advocate. Helen did much of the organizing, keyboarding,
checking and filing of those writings. He was a teacher and administrator at
several of our colleges and universities including Lubbock Christian University,
Faulkner University and Magnolia Bible College. With Helen as his personal
assistant, he could afford to play the part of the brilliant, absent-minded
professor, for she handled his schedule. Helen was a CPA and took care of their
finances. She accompanied him in his many travels. Helen was Furman's constant
companion and helper. They drew joy from one another and the many ministries
they served together. After she was borne to the banquet table of the Lord, he
frequently spoke and wrote of the void he constantly felt.

So, Furman left behind earthly
family and friends he loved as he, too, went to be with the Lord - and with
Helen.

I am not a great preacher, but
I have been fortunate to spend time with great preachers. Furman Kearley was one
of those. Though it was Dr. Kearley's death that prompted this tribute, I could
not just write about him. In my acquaintance I rarely thought of just him. The
Kearleys were so entwined in marriage, in work, in ministry, and in spirit that
I always thought and almost always spoke of them together: "Dr. and Mrs.
Kearley" "Brother and Sister Kearley" "Furman and Helen."

Their reunion must have been
so joyous that tears of sadness are not really called for. I shed a tear,
anyway.

It was my privilege to become
acquainted with the Kearleys in 1978 when Helen and I worked together in an ad
valorem tax consulting firm in Abilene.
Her work ethic was unsurpassed, a compliment to any Christian.

Furman had no peers when it
came to his humility, his scholarship, and his genuine love of people. During a
period of time, he preached for a small congregation at Burkett, Texas, in
Coleman County, south of Abilene, and I had occasion to visit there many times.
Those people, very much the products of hard work and living close to the soil,
loved Furman and seemed not to be aware that he was of such superior quality
when it came to studying and presenting the Word every time the congregation
came together. Furman and Helen established their residence in that community
for several years and were held close to the hearts of everyone, both Christians
and those who had not espoused the Way.

Perhaps the greatest legacy
the two of them left is their love and respect for each other. They were the
epitome of what the Lord planned, I believe, when he set forth the roles for
man and woman.

I first met Furman Kearley
when he was in graduate school at Harding University (when it was still on the
Searcy Campus) and I was an undergraduate student. My wife and I lived in a
one-room apartment made from old army barracks, and thus it was called "Vet
Village." Around the corner in what we then thought were upper-crust apartments
lived Furman and family in a three-room apartment. He was then and always
thereafter a Christian gentleman, a rather quiet, unassuming young man, of whom
greatness was not expected by me. I'm sure his teachers saw much of the
scholar's nature in him, however.

When I completed a manuscript
in 1994, I sent Furman a copy because he had agreed to evaluate it for me. Soon
came back a splendid letter that described the purpose of the treatise better
than I had grasped it. He graciously permitted Me to use it as an endorsement on
the back cover. He saw it as a defense of the Restoration principle.

In talking of church problems
he said, "What bothers me most about the liberals in the church is that they
want to tear down the old principles but don't know how far they are going and
don't seem to care." This concerned him deeply. Although he defended the faith
with great urgency, He was not out of balance and never allowed the Gospel
Advocate to be a one-theme paper.

A true scholar has gone from
us, one who was fair and kind. I grew to love and appreciate him. He once
mentioned that in Hebrew Union he came across a six language translation of the
Bible and that his most enlightening times were spent daily in reading it, all
six of its languages being familiar to him. His love for the Word and its Lord
was never diminished.

It was my privilege to come to
know Edwin and Furman Kearley and their mother when the boys were quite young.
Sister Kearley, a widow, was well-known for her faithfulness to Christ, and the
way she was rearing her two young sons.

It was a privilege to be near
when Furman and Helen met and married. It was a joy to see the blossoming of a
young man who would become not only a loving husband and father, but also a
brilliant student of God's Word who would walk among the spiritual giants of his
generation. It was a blessed privilege to have him as a friend and brother in
Christ.

F. Furman Kearley was born November 7, 1932 in
Snowden, Alabama. He passed away Saturday, March 1, 2003 at his residence in
Corsicana, Texas. Visitation was held at the Griffin-Roughton Funeral Home.
Memorial services were held March 7th, at the Westhill Church of Christ. Edward
Myers, Neil Anderson, Jimmy Jividen, Cecil May, Ferman Carpenter, Roger Rush and
Joe Barnett officiated. Pallbearers included: Michael Kearley, Michael Mink,
David Johnson, Randy Hodges, Chuck Lawrence, Barney Johnson, and Joe Cope.
Burial took place at the Hamiton-Beeman Cemetery south of Corsicana in the
community of Retreat.

The grave of F.F. Kearley
is located in Navarro County, south of the city of Corsicana, in the
township of Retreat, Texas, in the Hamilton-Beeman Cemetery. Take I-45 to exit 231 and head west on
Hwy. 31 (W. 7th Ave.) Turn left on Hwy. 709 (S. 15th St.) and head south
of town. Hwy. 709 will bear to the right. Continue on Hwy. 709 about 2
miles and turn right on CR2555, Hamilton Road. The Cemetery will be up a
drive on your right. Head through the entrance of the cemetery and
immediately take a hard turn back to your right, and follow the fence
row back to the south end of the cemetery. Turn left at the end, and go
to second section on left. Look for a "two-heart" shaped monument with "KRAUTER"
on it. The Kearley monument is next to it in the block. This is located
at the most southern section of the cemetery.